(BALTIMORE, MD) — (January 5, 2010) — Marvel Comics’ Avengers #1 was the bestselling comic book title for 2010 based on total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.

Released in May, Avengers #1 saw two of Marvel's top creators, Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita, Jr., team up for the very first time to create a bombastic new monthly Marvel comic that unleashed one of the most successful Avengers teams ever. The issue also sets the stage for Marvel’s theatrical release of The Thor and Avengers movies in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Marvel Comics also finished the year as the comic book industry’s top publisher, leading both Dollar and Unit Market Shares, with a 38% Dollar Market Share, and a 43% Unit Market Share. DC Comics was the industry’s second leading publisher in 2010 with 30% Dollar Market Share, and a 34% Unit Market Share.

DC Comics’ top titles for 2010 were the finale of the Blackest Night mini-series, with issues #7 and #8 charting in the top 10 comic books, and the Superman: Earth One HC, which was the fifth best-selling graphic novel for 2010.

2010’s top-selling graphic novel to comic book specialty shops was TheWalking Dead Volume 1trade paperback, which surged in sales from the hit Fall TV show on AMC. Overall, Image Comics’ Walking Dead titles charted in five of the top ten spots, with Oni Press’ acclaimed Scott Pilgrim books taking three spots, aided by its successful movie adaptation.

Annual sales of comic books, graphic novels, and magazines to the comic book specialty market declined slightly in 2010, down 3.5% from 2009. “While sales for the year were down, there have been a lot of positive signs in the last quarter,” remarked Diamond President & CEO Steve Geppi. “Sales have steadily picked up and most retailers reported better than average holiday shopping sales. We believe comic books and graphic novels offer a great entertainment value for consumers, and 2011 is shaping up with some very exciting and creative storylines and titles from the industry’s top publishers.”

Avengers #1

The Walking Dead:Days Gone Bye

Blackest Night #7

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TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER

RETAILERDOLLARMARKETSHARE

RETAILERUNIT MARKETSHARE

MARVEL COMICS

38.23%

43.35%

DC COMICS

30.39%

34.00%

DARK HORSE COMICS

5.17%

3.88%

IMAGE COMICS

4.53%

3.71%

IDW PUBLISHING

4.08%

3.45%

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

2.65%

2.52%

BOOM! STUDIOS

1.95%

1.77%

VIZ MEDIA

1.42%

0.68%

EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD

0.82%

0.20%

AVATAR PRESS INC

0.70%

0.50%

OTHER NON-TOP 10

10.07%

5.95%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

VENDOR

1

AVENGERS #1

$3.99

MARVEL COMICS

2

X-MEN #1

$3.99

MARVEL COMICS

3

BLACKEST NIGHT #8

$3.99

DC COMICS

4

SIEGE #1

$3.99

MARVEL COMICS

5

BLACKEST NIGHT #7

$3.99

DC COMICS

6

NEW AVENGERS #1

$3.99

MARVEL COMICS

7

BRIGHTEST DAY #0

$3.99

DC COMICS

8

BRIGHTEST DAY #1

$2.99

DC COMICS

9

SIEGE #2

$3.99

MARVEL COMICS

10

BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1

$3.99

DC COMICS

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

VENDOR

1

WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE

$9.99

IMAGE COMICS

2

KICK ASS PREMIUM HC

$24.99

MARVEL COMICS

3

WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS

$14.99

IMAGE COMICS

4

SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 06 FINEST HOUR

$11.99

ONI PRESS

5

SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC

$19.99

DC COMICS

6

SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 01 PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE

$11.99

ONI PRESS

7

WALKING DEAD TP VOL 12 LIFE AMONG THEM

$14.99

IMAGE COMICS

8

WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US

$14.99

IMAGE COMICS

9

WALKING DEAD TP VOL 13 TOO FAR GONE

$14.99

IMAGE COMICS

10

SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 02 VS THE WORLD

$11.99

ONI PRESS

Dollar Market Share – 2010

Unit Market Share– 2010

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.

Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.

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ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.